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Union of Councils for Soviet Jews

 Organization

Biography

In 1970, thirty-three independent groups in the U.S. joined together to form the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews. It was the "adult" organization allied with the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry which was formed in 1964. The Union created massive lists of Refuseniks and political prisoners in the Soviet Union (Prisoners of Conscience)." The Union set up action committees in cities across the U.S. and began the "Adopt a Prisoner" program. The Colorado Action Committee "adopted" a number of Prisoners of Conscience. Lillian Hoffman was the first in Colorado Committee to talk by telephone to one of the adopted prisoners.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Colorado Committee of Concern for Soviet Jewry Records

 Collection
Identifier: B093
Abstract Soviet Jews who wanted to emigrate from the Soviet Union were known as "Refuseniks." American Jewish students formed the Struggle for Soviet Jewry (SSSJ) in 1964 and the American Jewish Committee on Soviet Jewry (AJCSI) was also organized that year. Rabbi Samuel Adelman, rabbi of the BMH synagogue, spoke at Temple Emanuel and urged the liberal congregation to help Soviet Jews. Rabbi Raymond Zwerin, Sheldon Steinhauser, and Lillian Hoffman formed what became the Colorado Committee of Concern...
Dates: 1929-1996; Majority of material found within 1968-1978

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